Introduction to Epigenetics

Formats Available

• eBook
• Online
• PDF
• Hardcopy

Conditions of Use

Attribution
CC BY

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Chapter 1: Biology of Chromatin
• Chapter 2: Chromatin Dynamics
• Chapter 3: Cellular Memory
• Chapter 4: Dosage Compensation Systems
• Chapter 5: Genomic Imprinting
• Chapter 6: RNA-Based Mechanisms of Gene Silencing
• Chapter 7: Regeneration and Reprogramming
• Chapter 8: Epigenetics and Cancer
• Chapter 9: Epigenetics and Metabolism
• Back Matter

About the Book

This open access textbook leads the reader from basic concepts of chromatin structure and function and RNA mechanisms to the understanding of epigenetics, imprinting, regeneration and reprogramming. The textbook treats epigenetic phenomena in animals, as well as plants. Written by four internationally known experts and senior lecturers in this field, it provides a valuable tool for Master- and PhD- students who need to comprehend the principles of epigenetics, or wish to gain a deeper knowledge in this field.

After reading this book, the student will:

• Have an understanding of the basic toolbox of epigenetic regulation
• Know how genetic and epigenetic information layers are interconnected
• Be able to explain complex epigenetic phenomena by understanding the structures and principles of the underlying molecular mechanisms
• Understand how misregulated epigenetic mechanisms can lead to disease

About the Contributors

Authors

Professor Dr. Renato Paro is an internationally renowned expert in epigenetics, whose pioneering research has significantly advanced our understanding of gene regulation, chromatin structure, and cellular memory mechanisms. One of his most notable contributions is the discovery of the Polycomb gene, the founding member of the Polycomb Group (PcG) genes, which are crucial for maintaining gene silencing during development. His research has demonstrated how these proteins can "remember" specific gene states through epigenetic mechanisms, a process essential for cell fate determination during development. His work has shed light on the dynamic nature of chromatin and how it can be modified to either activate or repress genes and their transgenerational inheritance. These findings have profound implications, not only for developmental biology but also for understanding cancer biology and genetic diseases linked to the dysregulation of epigenetic processes.

Professor Ueli Grossniklaus is the Group Leader and Director of the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at The University of Zurich.  He is a developmental geneticist interested in elucidating the genetic and molecular basis of plant reproduction. He is an internationally renowned expert on signaling during fertilisation and epigenetic aspects of seed development but has also worked on apomixis for over 25 years. In his research, he employs natural apomicts as well as the genetic models maize and Arabidopsis to develop tools for the engineering of apomixis, efforts that resulted in a proof-of-concept for producing clonal seeds in maize.

Raffaella Santoro studied Chemistry at the University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy where she also obtained her PhD in Biochemistry. She then moved to Germany where she worked at the Hans Knöll Institut, Jena, and at the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg. In 2007 she moved to ETH Zurich as group leader.
Since 2009, she is group leader at the Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (formerly Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) of the University of Zurich.

Anton Wutz is Professor of Genetics at the Institute of Molecular Health Sciences at the ETH Zurich. He received his PhD from the Technical University of Graz in 1997 based on his work performed at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna, Austria. After postdoctoral work with Rudolf Jaenisch at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge (USA) he joined the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology as a group leader in 2001. In 2009 he moved to the University of Cambridge (UK), where he has been a Principal Investigator at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research from 2009 to 2013 His current research activities focus on nuclear mechanisms that regulate changes of cellular identity during stem cell differentiation and specify the diverse cell types of the body. His laboratory has contributed to the development of new genetic strategies for studying mammalian pathways.

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